Oliver Langselius , Harriet Rumgay, Esther de Vries, David C Whiteman et al. Int J Cancer. 2025 Sep 15;157(6):1110-1119
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) accounted for around 331,700 cancer cases globally in 2022. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a major CM risk factor. In this study, we update and improve global estimates of UVR-attributable CM cases. An estimated 267,353 CM cases were UVR attributable globally in 2022. Males contributed to a larger proportion (57%, 151,921 out of 267,353) of UVR-attributable CMs. We found significant regional variation with the highest PAF observed in Australia/ New Zealand, Northern Europe, and North America, all with more than 95% CM cases UVR-attributable. Attributable age-standardized rates were highest in regions with populations of lighter skin color such as Australia/New Zealand, Northern Europe, and North America, with 75.68, 36.82 and 33.69 attributable cases per 100,000 people. By age group, the burden increased with age, with PAF of 76.39% among people aged 30-49 versus 86.13% among 70+ years. Most of the global CM burden in 2022 was UVR-attributable. Primary prevention through increasing sun safety awareness and affordable sun protection provision options is key to reducing CM.
15 Apr, 2026